Hashd al-Shaabi demanded the US-led international coalition to provide an explanation as a missile launched through the coalition-controlled airspace in the recently-recaptured Tal Afar airport and targeted the leadership meeting of popular forces.

In a statement, Hashed al-Shaabi ruled out that the missile, which landed only one meter and a half from the convocation, could have been fired by the terrorist group, Iraqi News reported.

“Yesterday a tent hosting a meeting by Hashd al-Shaabi was targeted by a missile, shortly after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had left, leaving a number of fighters wounded,” the statement read.

“Inspecting the rocket’s remains, it was concluded that it had not been fired by ISIS (ISIL, IS, Daesh) terrorists; it was a laser-guided missile fired by an aircraft,” the statement added, noting that coalition drones were roaming the area at the time of the meeting.

Highlighting the coalition’s control over the airspace of Western Mosul, the statement demanded "an explanation" for the incident.

However, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, a high-profile leader within the popular forces, said the airport is regularly shelled by ISIS.

Hashed al-Shaabi said Friday it has launched a fifth phase of operations seeking to retake the flashpoint town of Tal Afar from ISIS terrorists, deeming the anticipated takeover as a major step towards encircling the group inside Iraq and cutting its supply and escape routes to and from Syria.